There are deeply rooted reasons–from banking habits to government policy–why the Chinese are unlikely to increase consumption anytime soon. For starters, China lacks the infrastructure of modern consumer finance and is years–possibly decades–away from building it to the standards of the developed world. Its banks face significant structural and regulatory barriers to offering more consumer-finance products. China needs to reallocate capital and labor to orient itself toward producing goods and services that its consumers want. China’s investment-driven growth may already be witnessing declining marginal returns. Shifting to a new model for GDP growth will require changes at every level, right down to the bank branch.

Sternberg is an editorial page writer for the Wall Street Journal Asia.

Wright says if America wants to actually cut defense spending it should correct the disproportionate role America plays as the world’s police. We not only foot the monetary bill for this role, but we also pay for the ill will as a result of playing this role. The United Nations Security Council is the mechanism through which threats to peace should be recognized, the military action necessary to deal with them authorized, and the burdens of that military action shared. Wright also suggests non-military ways for global governance to share peace. As our days of global hegemony are passing, we should craft instruments of global governance to assure security in a world we don’t dominate that will equitably distribute the costs of that security.

Wright blogs on culture, politics and world affairs for The New York Times.

Regarding the coming Congressional debate over whether to raise the US debt ceiling, Toomey says that under no circumstances is it acceptable for the US to default on its debt. By honoring our debts we benefit from the nearly universal conviction that those who lend to us will always be repaid in full. We should never undermine that conviction. Toomey opposes raising the debt ceiling without regaining control of federal spending. The recent surge in spending, both in absolute dollars and as a percentage of our GDP, has produced record deficits and debt. Congress can address the looming fiscal crisis created by overspending without jeopardizing the full faith and credit of our country–and it should.

The author makes an appeal to President Obama to consider human rights and the democratization of China when he meets with Chinese President Hu Jintao this week. He suggests that President Obama politely but pointedly ask President Hu about his father’s denunciation by the Communist Party and draw the parallel between Hu’s father and political prisoners like Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo. Obama could ask why Liu Xia, wife of Liu Xiaobo, remains under house arrest without being accused of any crime (Chinese law makes no provision for imprisonment without cause). Obama could then press Hu toward a more democratic approach to government, which would be in the best interest of the United States, China, and “all humanity,” says Yang Jianli. While the writer understands the potential awkwardness of such an encounter between Obama and Hu, he also recognizes the opportunity.

The writer is president of Initiatives for China and a Harvard fellow. He served a five-year prison term in China, from 2002 to 2007, for attempting to observe labor unrest. He is the liaison to the Nobel Peace Prize Committee on behalf of Liu Xia, the wife of Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo, who is serving 11 years in prison for his writings.

The US Chamber of Commerce is enjoying renewed influence in Washington after this past November’s elections. Not only did the Chamber support a number of winning candidates across the nation, but corporate interests have returned to prominence among both the legislative and executive branches. Lobbyists have gained key staff positions with incoming Representatives and Senators and the Chamber expects a more business friendly tone in the years ahead.

Chinese President Hu Jintao arrives in Washington for a state visit next week as the Obama administration’s thinking on the US-China relationship has evolved. Curry suggests that Obama may give greater prominence to human rights as he recalibrates relations with Beijing. She thinks freedom of expression should be the leitmotif of the summit. The summit provides an opportunity to contrast the weaknesses of the Chinese political system with the strengths of the American one. Aspects of the visit involving freedom of expression should be non-negotiable. If the Chinese side objects, the White House should be willing to cancel events of importance to Beijing’s protocol-obsessed leaders.

From the 1830s-1850s, members of Congress wore weapons on the House and Senate floor and often used them, Freeman says. She looks at the history of violence in Washington, including an incident when Senator Henry Foote of Mississippi pulled a pistol on Senator Thomas Hart Benton of Missouri during a debate. Things began to change after the invention of the telegraph, which promised instant publicity of these deeds. Now politicians are considering carrying weapons again to protect themselves against the public. Freeman says we are reminded that words matter and communication should be fruitful and civil.

Freeman, a professor of history at Yale, is at work on a book about violence in Congress.

Throughout the country public-employee pension plans have been massively underfunded and defined-benefit systems aren’t merely Ponzi schemes. They discourage talented teachers who would prefer front-loaded compensation. Defined-benefit pensions helped bring the once-vibrant US auto industry to its knees. The promised benefits just proved too costly. The same kind of pension is now hollowing out public education. Because there’s essentially no competition in education, however, the effect has been hidden from public view. Today incoming governors–Democrats and Republicans–faced with this dismal equation are looking for a way to undo the damage and get out from under these unsustainable promises.

Klein, former chancellor of New York City’s public schools, is the CEO of News Corporation’s educational division.

Krugman says he is not surprised by the Arizona shooting. He cites an upsurge in political hatred after Bill Clinton’s election that culminated in the Oklahoma City bombing, the frenzied crowds at McCain-Palin rallies, and a Department of Homeland Security internal report in April 2009 that warned that right-wing extremism was on the rise, with a growing potential for violence. The calls for violence in political rhetoric has contributed to this, and this act should not be treated as an isolated event. Decent people should shun those that are purveyors of hate, and it is up to GOP leaders to accept the reality of what’s happening and take a stand against eliminationist rhetoric, otherwise this is just the beginning of the violence.